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Ksavie RishoProsecutor of Lyon.
Country:
 France |
Content:
Xavier Richaud: The Lyon Prosecutor
The Arrest of Mikhail ProkhorovXavier Richaud, the prosecutor of the city of Lyon, France, gained prominence after the arrest of Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov in 2007. Prokhorov, at the time the head of the Norilsk Nickel company, was detained in the ski resort of Courchevel on January 9, 2007.
Richaud informed the press about the arrest two days later, stating that in addition to Prokhorov, two of his associates, two representatives of Norilsk Nickel, and ten women were taken into custody. The arrest was the culmination of a lengthy investigation that had commenced in 2006.
Investigation and Allegations
The investigation into Prokhorov's activities stemmed from allegations of prostitution and human trafficking. According to media reports, multiple women from Russia had been transported to Courchevel and allegedly engaged in prostitution. Prokhorov was accused of offering prostitution services to guests at parties he hosted.
Prosecutorial Actions
Had formal charges been filed against Prokhorov, he would have faced a court hearing on January 12th. Under French law, pimping or facilitating prostitution carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment and a fine of up to 150,000 euros.
However, the case did not proceed to trial. After questioning by investigators, Prokhorov and the other detained individuals were released. Richaud stated that Prokhorov denied involvement in any prostitution activities during his interrogation.
Conclusion
Despite the lack of concrete evidence against him, Richaud did not rule out the possibility of recalling Prokhorov for further questioning in the future. Following his release, Prokhorov returned to Russia, where the case against him was eventually closed.
